Clasp



May 28, 1935. H. H. JONES I I I 9 19 CLASP Filed Oct. 11 1955 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 28, 1935 Helen "Jones, 'Granstonf lt. 1.- Application octbbeiir, 193QSjeriall$t Claims (01. 24-163) moval, or, for attaching other articles, as desired.

An object of my invention'is to provide a clasp, or fastener, that is economical to manufacture, and one that will permit the fabric ends to be readily attached, or detached. At the present time, there are clasps in use'that are unsatisfactory to use, byreasonof the difliculty in attaching and removing the napkin, or other article. One of the advantages of ,my improvement is the ease of inserting the ends from the rear side of the clasp through the opening at the top and then passing the free end forward and inserting it into the opening, or space, in the lower portion of the clasp, or fastener. The entrance to this lower opening is normally closed by means of two readily bendable, or flexible elements, that extend towards each other and nearly meet in the central, vertical, line of the clasp. The flexible elements, after anend of the article is inserted into the lower opening, will automatically close again towards each other, and thus effectually prevent the accidental removal of the article, after being attached. At the same time, these bendable elements permit the easy removal of the article, by simply pulling outwardly on the free end portion, as will be fully described.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates the clasp, or fastener, in use.

Fig. 2 shows two of the clasps attached to'the belt, or girdle, in the usual manner.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detail view, in section, showing one end of a napkin, or other article, attached to the clasp, when in use.

Fig. 4 is an elevationalview of the clasp removed from the belt.

Fig. 5 is a side, or edge, elevational view of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, sectional, plan view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, clearly showing the two flexible, or bendable, members of the clasp, in full and dotted line positions. I

Referring to the drawing in detail:

I designates the flat clasp, or fastener, as a whole, that is composed of some suitable material, as celluloid, 2 is an opening, or recess,-'in its upper edge portion, having the narrow throat entrance portion 3 and the wider, lower portion with the teeth elements 4, three of which are shown. 5 designates the openings for attaching the short straps 6, 6, to the waist belt 1, as shown; 8 indicates an opening in the lower part of the clasp having the entrance between the depending portions 9, 9, normally closed with the two elastic,

or bendable, members l0, I0, composed of some thin, flexible material, of a prepared fabric, that will flex and return, when bent. These two thin members, when in the full line positions, nearly meet each other, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, at l l.

UNITED sirres oFF-icEf;

'10 The clasp, or fastener, is used as follows: The

free end l2 of the napkin I, or other article, is passed from the back of the clasp between the strapsfi, 6, then through the throat opening 3,

downward against the sharp points 4, nextthe operator presses the end l2 against the two flexible members l0, l0, causing them to bend, or. flex inward, as shown in Fig. 6, in the dotted line, When the end I2 is located in the opening 8, the flexible, or elastic members It, Ill,

positions.

will then return to theirnormal, or full line,

positions, thus closing the opening 8 against the removal of the end l2. The article can be detached by simply pulling outward on the end l2, in the direction of the arrow l3, which will again flex, or bend, the members I0, l0, permitting the removal of the end I2 fromthe opening 8. Next, it is only necessary to lift upward on the end l2 and free the article I from the teeth 4, when it.

may be entirely removed. 'When the end- I2 is in the opening 8, it will engage the upperedges 14, but will not permit its removal, until the end-l2 is pulled outward, as shown by the arrow l3.

From this description, it will be seen that I have provided an inexpensive, aneflicient clasp, or fastener, for the purpose described, and one that will not chafe, or injure the wearer in any way.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use mentioned, as other uses, may be made of the article;

What I claim is:-

1. A clasp device comprising, a flexible and bendable member formed with terminal throat openings in its extreme upperand lower edges, oppositelylocated and separate bendable members at the lower edge, the lower opening being normally closed,v said oppositely located and separate bendable members extending beyond with openings in its opposite edges which ter-- minate at said edges, bendable members at one of said edges, one of the openings being normally closed by said bendable members, said members being located in and partially filling the opening.

3. A clasp comprising, a flat member having terminal throat openings 'formed in its upperand lower edges, the lower portion of the upper throat opening having upwardly'extending retaining projections, bendable members at the lower edge, the lower throat openingflbeingnormallyand partially closed by said bendable members, said bendable members being yieldable and movable in opposite directions when pressed opposite directions. V 4. As an article of manuiactur'e a normally flat and bendable member having throat openings in two of its extreme opp telv located edges, one of the openings having sharpretainingpoints, the other opening having elastic members located therein which meet in the center line of the fiat member and are bendable in opposite directions and to the same extent to permit the entrance and removal of an article, as a" fabric, the construction and arrangement being such that the fabric is prevented against removal when located'in the said openings, as described. I

5. A clasp member, for the purpose described, comprising aplate-like member having entrance openings in its upper and lower edges, yieldable elements in the lower opening, having their up- .per edges inclined, said elements serving to permit the entrance and removal of an end of a ,napkimor the like, when pressed against the yieldable elements on their opposite sides. 7 HELEN H. JONES. 

